Here’s a detailed overview of the free plans offered by popular email marketing platforms like ConvertKit, Mailchimp, Sendinblue, MailerLite, and HubSpot. Each has its own features, limitations, and unique aspects that make it suitable for different types of users.
1. ConvertKit Free Plan
- Subscribers: Up to 10,000 subscribers
- Email Sends: 10000 emails per month
- Key Features:
- Landing pages and forms to capture leads
- Basic email designer and automation capabilities
- Tagging and segmenting of subscribers
- Access to a small set of customizable templates
- Limitations:
- Limited reporting and analytics
- Advanced automation and visual workflow builder are only available in paid plans
- No access to automated funnels and sequences
- Best For: Creators and bloggers who need basic email marketing capabilities and subscriber management.
2. Mailchimp Free Plan
- Subscribers: Up to 500 contacts
- Email Sends: 3,500 emails per month with a daily limit of 500
- Key Features:
- Pre-built email templates and basic email automation
- Audience segmentation and tagging
- Basic reporting and analytics
- One-step automation (e.g., welcome emails)
- Limitations:
- Mailchimp branding on emails
- Limited support options (email support for the first 30 days)
- No access to A/B testing, multi-step automations, or advanced segmentation
- Best For: Small businesses, bloggers, and startups needing basic email marketing without advanced automation.
3. Sendinblue Free Plan
- Subscribers: Unlimited subscribers
- Email Sends: 300 emails per day (approximately 9,000 per month)
- Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop email editor
- Basic automation workflows (up to 2,000 contacts in workflows)
- SMS marketing integration (paid separately)
- Basic reporting and analytics
- Limitations:
- Daily email-sending limit
- Limited A/B testing capabilities
- Sendinblue branding on emails
- Best For: Businesses needing unlimited contact storage and basic automation with email-sending restrictions.
4. MailerLite Free Plan
- Subscribers: Up to 1,000 subscribers
- Email Sends: 12,000 emails per month
- Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop email editor and pre-designed templates
- Basic automation workflows
- Landing page builder with sign-up forms
- Audience segmentation and tagging
- Limitations:
- No 24/7 customer support (limited to email support)
- Limited to one automation and landing page
- Lacks advanced features like custom HTML editor or promotional pop-ups
- Best For: Small business owners and bloggers looking for a user-friendly, all-in-one email marketing platform.
5. HubSpot Free Plan
- Subscribers: Unlimited contacts (limited contact storage in CRM)
- Email Sends: Up to 2,000 emails per month
- Key Features:
- CRM integration, sales, and marketing automation
- Access to HubSpot’s drag-and-drop editor and templates
- Audience segmentation and analytics
- Basic landing pages and form builder
- Limitations:
- Limited automation options (more advanced automation workflows in paid plans)
- No A/B testing for free users
- HubSpot branding on emails
- Best For: Small to mid-sized businesses that want to integrate email marketing with CRM and customer service.
Summary Table
| Platform | Subscribers | Email Sends | Key Free Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConvertKit | 10,000 | 12,000 per Month | Landing pages, basic automation | Bloggers and creators |
| Mailchimp | 500 | 3,500 per month | Basic automation, segmentation | Small businesses, bloggers |
| Sendinblue | Unlimited | 300 per day | Unlimited contacts, SMS integration | Businesses needing unlimited contacts |
| MailerLite | 1,000 | 12,000 per month | Landing pages, automation workflows | Small businesses and content creators |
| HubSpot | Unlimited (CRM limits) | 2,000 per month | CRM integration, forms, segmentation | Businesses looking for CRM integration |
Each of these platforms offers unique features that cater to specific needs. For basic use, Mailchimp and ConvertKit provide excellent entry-level options, while HubSpot and Sendinblue are suitable for businesses needing integration with CRM or larger contact lists.
